CITY TO STEP UP HIRING OF OFFICERS

The Cape Girardeau City Council voted unanimously Monday to step up a plan to hire more police officers in the city.

Police Chief Howard "Butch" Boyd Jr. had asked the council to hire two "community service officers" in January, and four more patrolmen during the next three years.

The council voted to accept Boyd's proposal, but to accelerate the hiring of the first two patrolmen -- action that could cost more than $30,000.

Councilman Doug Richards, director of University Police and Transportation at Southeast Missouri State University, made the motion.

During the council's study session, Richards said: "I would like to send a clear message to the community, the police department and hoodlums that we're taking a strong stance against street crimes.

"The money is going to be well spent. I firmly believe these officers need help out here."

The council's action will mean the police department, which already is adding two officers as part of this year's budget, will hire two more patrolmen in January in addition to two federally subsidized community service officers that Boyd proposed.

If the federal government approves the city's request for the community service officers, the city would have to come up with $6,000 for its share of the officers' salaries. The two additional patrolmen to be hired in January will cost almost $24,000.

The council agreed to hire the community service officers in January even if the federal subsidy is denied.

Boyd said that although his proposal was amended, he's "happy to get the additional help" sooner.

"I don't want to take from other people's pieces of the city's budget pie," he said. "But crack cocaine is the scourge of our nation, and some of the same problems they're suffering in the large cities, we're having here.

"We've got to send a message to young people in Cape Girardeau that they can't stand on the street corner and buy or sell drugs without suffering the consequences."

The Cape Girardeau chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police in August proposed adding six officers to the police force.

Barry Hovis, a police officer and member of the F.O.P., said Monday the group was pleased with the council's action. "I feel it's something the community, over time, will see is justified," he said.

Richards said the added officers are needed to meet a growing number of calls for service, and to reduce the city's crime index. He also spoke of the increase in crimes related to the sale of cocaine here.

"A problem like crack cocaine can turn a community upside down," Richards said. "The opportunity is here now to attack this."

City Manager J. Ronald Fischer said there is enough discretionary money in the budget to handle the added costs. "We can handle this," he said. "Budget-wise, it will not be significant."

Councilman David Limbaugh said he didn't want the council to set a precedent that would encourage other city departments to ask for unbudgeted money.

And yet he said "high-profile" cocaine activity in the past couple years in Cape Girardeau justified the special attention.

But Councilman Mary Wulfers, acting as what she called the "devil's advocate," said the council was "micro-managing" Boyd's administration. "He's the expert, not us," she said.

Limbaugh said the council wasn't changing Boyd's recommendation, but was merely accelerating it's execution. Wulfers conceded during the vote, and said she "fully supported" Richard's motion.

The police hiring proposal was only part of a three-pronged plan to battle street crime, particularly illegal drug sales.

Boyd proposed using a crime unit comprised of law enforcement officers from several area agencies to harass drug dealers. He also plans to implement community service programs aimed at crime prevention and education.

In other business, the council approved the city's application in a grant application that would enable flood victims to raze water-damaged homes for free.

The Missouri Department of Economic Development, through its community development block grant program, will provide the funds. The program is aimed at helping cash-strapped flood victims remove buildings that pose a health threat in the community.

Ken Eftink, the city's development services coordinator, said that, if approved, the $105,000 grant would allow the city to clear about 30 flooded homes. Property owners would still own the land, which could be sold or developed according to the city's floodplain management regulations.